Registration open for GVC contest

WE ARE FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE AT&T FOUNDATION.


August 1, 2010
Dear Friends,

WIN CASH PRIZES FOR YOUR SCHOOL!

Let me introduce myself, I am Andrew Ezzell and my wife JoAnn Patrick-Ezzell and I are co-founders of the all volunteer Give Something Back International (GSBI) Foundation located in Sarasota, Florida, USA.

I am writing to let you know about the 2010/11 Global Virtual Classroom (GVC) Programs. Now in its eighth year, the GVC is a free online collaborative learning program that teaches information technology and website design skills and fosters teamwork, creativity, cross cultural understanding, and giving back to others.

Sponsored by the GSBI Foundation, the GVC provides an opportunity for primary and secondary school students from different countries and cultures to work with and learn from other students as they collaboratively work on specific projects (GVC Clubhouse) or design a website on a topic of their choosing (GVC Contest) and win cash prizes for their schools.

The GVC Clubhouse is a non-competitive collaborative learning program for K-12 students from around the world. It is a flexible program for schools that want to participate with other schools from around the world on joint learning projects. Previous programs have included a global water quality research study, English as a second language, collaborative science projects, discussion group, photo sharing and internet pen pals.

The GVC Contest is a competitive team website design contest for K-12 students throughout the world. The schools that apply are grouped into either primary or secondary school teams. Three schools from different countries are selected to work together as a GVC team. Once these multinational teams have been formed they must collaboratively identify a topic of interest, develop a project plan and design a website to express and communicate their ideas. In May of each year, these websites are judged by a panel of international VIP judges to determine the winners. Plaques and cash awards are presented to the schools of the winning teams and each student receives a certificate of participation. The Grand Prize cash award is $3,000 for each of the winning primary and secondary school teams. The second place cash award is $1,500 for each winning team and the third place cash award is $750 to each winning team.

Online applications for the GVC Contest will be accepted through September 25th, at which time teams will be formed and the work started on the chosen projects. Beyond the accomplishment of the project work itself, these teams learn how to collaborate across different cultures and form new friendships with students and teachers from different lands.

Start now by downloading or completing the online registration form located on our website at: www.VirtualClassroom.org/application.html

We are pleased that a number of returning teachers and schools, including some new participants, have already signed up for the 2010/11 GVC programs. Over the years, approximately 31,000 students and 1,400 teachers from over 600 schools in 52 countries have participated in one of the GVC programs. We would be delighted to welcome your school to this year's program.

More information about the GVC programs, schedule, online applications and previous GVC award-winning websites can be found at: www.VirtualClassroom.org


Andrew Ezzell
President, GSBI Foundation
www.gsbi.org
1548 Caribbean Dr. Sarasota, FL 34231 USA
(941) 924-0025


Sponsored by the

Give Something Back International Foundation • www.gsbi.org



Janet Barnstable
Program Manager
Global Virtual Classroom
www.virtualclassroom.org
Give Something Back International
www.gsbi.org